Apparatus for feeding a strip of continuous forms

ABSTRACT

In feeding a strip of continuous forms including forms arranged in a plurality of layers and having a plurality of series of perforations extending widthwise of the strip and arranged at regular intervals lengthwise of the strip, the strip is bent at one of the series of perforations to provide a bent portion, and a member is located inwardly of the bent portion of the strip for movement toward and away from the bent portion of the strip. When the member is brought into contact with the bent portion of the strip, the upper and lower layers of the strip are brought into alignment with one another through the series of perforations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for feeding a strip of continuous forms used with a printer, for example, and more particularly it is concerned with a form aligning device of the apparatus for feeding the strip of continuous forms composed of a plurality of forms or parts arranged in superposed relation.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In one type of apparatus for feeding a strip of continuous forms used as with a printer composed of a plurality of forms or parts arranged in superposed relations in a plurality of layers, it has hitherto been usual practice to form feeding apertures or what are generally referred to as sprocket apertures at regular intervals in opposite marginal portions of upper and lower forms and to adhesively connect the upper and lower forms at their sides as by pasting to avoid displacements of the upper and lower forms relative to one another. The strip of continuous forms has formed therein with a plurality of series of perforations extending widthwise of the strip and spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance in the direction of feed of the strip for folding the strip in a plurality of portions stacked in a pile. It is generally known that in the apparatus for feeding a strip of continuous forms described hereinabove, the strip of continuous forms of the aforesaid construction is used and fed by means of sprocket wheels by utilizing the sprocket apertures to avoid displacements of the upper and lower forms relative to one another when the strip of continuous forms is fed.

Some disadvantages are associated with the apparatus of the prior art described hereinabove. For example, when the forms are separated one from another and put to use after printing is effected thereon, the problem of the forms being broken or irreparably damaged at the portions thereof at which the forms are connected together as by pasting has arisen. Also, when the forms are air-line tickets, for example, each ticket assembly is severed from the strip at the perforations and printed for use. In this case, the presence of the sprocket apertures seriously interferes with the smooth operation of an optical read-out device in view of the lower form feeding capacity of such device when the uppermost tickets of the assemblies are subjected to read-out by the optical read-out device for the purpose of finding out the total of the sold tickets or making fare adjustments. Thus the use of paste for connecting the upper and lower layers of forms together and the formation of sprocket perforations in the strip of continuous forms that have hitherto been made necessary in feeding the strip of continuous forms by the apparatus of the prior art described hereinabove have created serious problems with regard to the handling of individual forms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention obviates the aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art. Accordingly, the invention has as its object the provision of an apparatus for feeding continuous forms provided with a form aligning device which enables the forms arranged in superposed relation one over another in the strip to be properly positioned relative to one another with no displacements occurring between the upper and lower forms even if the forms are not pasted together.

To accomplish the aforesaid object, according to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for feeding continuous forms which comprises a form aligning device suitable for use with a strip of continuous forms composed of two or more layers of continuous forms and formed with a plurality of series of perforations extending widthwise thereof, such form aligning device comprising a member located beneath and positioned against the inner surface of one of bent portions formed by bending the strip at one series of perforations, such member being operative to move upwardly into engagement with the inner surface of the bent portion so as to thereby align the upper and lower forms through the series of perforations by eliminating displacements of the upper and lower forms when such strip of continuous forms is fed during operation.

By virtue of the form aligning device constructed as aforesaid according to the invention, a strip of continuous forms can be fed without displacements of the upper and lower forms relative to one another occurring even if they are not pasted together.

Elimination of the need to paste the upper and lower forms together at the sides thereof makes it possible to dispense with form strip feeding device of the sprocket wheel type. Also, handling of the strip of continuous forms is facilitated, and the problem of the forms being broken when separated from one another does not arise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus for feeding a strip of continuous forms comprising one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic side view of a strip of continuous forms used with the apparatus for feeding a strip of continuous forms according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the essential portions of the form aligning device constituting the essentials of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIG. 3, showing a strip of continuous forms before displacements of the upper and lower forms relative to one another are corrected;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the strip of continuous forms after displacements of the upper and lower forms relative to one another are corrected; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic view of a modification of the form aligning device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus for feeding a strip of continuous forms embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the essential portions of a strip of continuous forms. FIGS. 3 to 5 are views in explanation of the operation of the form aligning device according to the invention.

In FIG. 1, a strip 1 of continuous forms superposed one over another in a plurality of layers is folded at a plurality of series of perforations 1a extending widthwise of the strip 1 and spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance lengthwise thereof, and contained in a form container 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the strip 2 is composed of a plurality of layers of forms 1₁, 1₂ . . . 1_(n) superposed one over another and formed with a plurality of series of perforations 1_(a1), 1_(a2), . . . 1_(an) located in the same positions and spaced apart from one another the same distance. The strip 1 is supplied from the form container 2 and fed to a transporting device 8 through a form aligning device 6 comprising a form aligner guide 3, guide rollers 4 and a form aligner wedge 5.

The transporting device 8 comprises an upper guide 9, a lower guide 10, drive rollers 11a and 11b, pinch rollers 12a and 12b and a drive assembly for driving the drive rollers 11a and 11b including drive belts 18, a clutch 13a and a motor 13. The transporting device 8 is provided with a photoelectric sensor 14 located downstream of a printer 16 for detecting the leading edge of the strip 1. The transporting device 8 is constructed such that the drive rollers 11a and 11b can be driven independently of each other by means of the clutch 13a.

The pinch rollers 12a and 12b are movable toward and away from the drive rollers 11a and 11b, respectively by another mechanism, not shown, and press against the strip 1 when they are abutted against their respective drive rollers. The drive rollers 11a and 11b cooperate with the pinch rollers 12a and 12b respectively for transporting the strip 1 until the leading edge of the latter is brought to a position in which the photoelectric sensor 14 is located downstream of the printer 16 after passing through cutter assembly 15.

Upon the leading edge of the strip 1 being detected by the photoelectric sensor 14, the clutch 13a is released and the strip 1 is brought to a halt in a position shown in FIG. 1. The position in which the strips 1 comes to a halt is controlled in such a manner that the series of perforations 1a is indexed with the cutter assembly 15 when the strip 1 is stationary. After becoming stationary, the strip 1 is cut at the series of perforation 1a by a cutter 15a as the latter moves in the direction of an arrow 7. The forms severed from the strip 1 are moved by the drive roller 11b and placed on a platen 19 of the printer in the usual manner, and printing is done on the forms 1 by the printer 16 in the known manner. After the printing is effected, the printed forms 1 are ejected through an ejection opening 17.

The form aligning device 6 is actuated to handle the strip 1 to correct any displacements of the upper and lower forms relative to one another while the forms 1 severed from the strip 1 at the series of perforations 1a are subjected to printing as aforesaid.

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide rollers 4 of the form aligning device 6 are located above and between the strip inlet of the transporting device 8 and the strip supply port of the strip container 2. By this arrangement, a bent portion can be formed in the strip 1 when the latter passes through the form aligning device 6.

The guide rollers 4 are located in a position which is spaced apart from the position of the photoelectric sensor 14 by a distance substantially corresponding to the spacing between the two series of perforations 1a multiplied by an integer. As a result, when the leading edge of the strip 1 is detected by the photoelectric sensor 14 and the strip is brought to a halt, one of the series of perforations 1a is indexed with the guide rollers 4. Since the guide rollers 4 are located in a position above the strip inlet of the transporting device 8 and the strip supply port of the strip container 2 as described hereinabove, the strip 1 is bent at the particular series of perforations 1a. Thus the bent portion of the strip 1 is located in the vicinity of a bend in the form aligner guide 3. The form aligner wedge 5 is of the wedge shape and performs the function of a member for correcting the displacements of the upper and lower forms relative to one another.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are views in explanation of the principle of the form aligning device 6 which handles the strip of continuous forms arranged in superposed relation in a plurality of layers. FIG. 3 shows the essential portions of the form aligning device 6 as seen from the side of the strip container 2. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIG. 3 showing the strip 1 before displacements of the upper and lower forms are corrected, and FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but shows the strip 1 after displacements of the upper and lower forms are corrected.

For the convenience of description, the strip 1 will be described as including, as shown in FIG. 4, an original form 1₁ and a copy form 1₂. The strip 1 is fed by way of the form aligning device 6 comprising, in addition to the form aligner guide 3, guide rollers 4 and form aligner wedge 5, an elliptic cam 5a and a rotary solenoid 5b (See FIG. 3) for driving the form aligner wedge 5, and transported by the drive roller 11a as the latter is driven by the motor 13 while the strip 1 being forced thereagainst by the pinch roller 12a.

The form aligner wedge 5 has an upper thin edge Q disposed below the upper end of the outer circumferential surface of each guide roller 4 and directed in the same direction as the upper end of the outer circumferential surface of each guide roller 4. The form aligner wedge 5 is operative to move in an upwardly directed movement in which the upper sharp edge Q of the wedge 5 moves toward a bend P of the form aligner guide 3 and a downwardly directed movement in which the wedge 5 is restored to its original position. This cycle of movements is performed as the elliptic cam 5a, which is in contact with the lower end of the form aligner wedge 5 and secured to a shaft 5c of the rotary solenoid 5b secured to a side wall, is actuated.

Energization of the rotary solenoid 5b rotates the shaft 5c of the solenoid 5b through 90 degrees to thereby move upwardly the form aligner wedge 5 in contact with the elliptic cam 5a at the bottom. The form aligner wedge 5 is given latitude in a vertical direction alone by a flat shaft 4a, so that it moves upwardly as its bottom is pushed upwardly by the elliptic cam 5a. De-energization of the rotary solenoid 5b allows the elliptic cam 5a to be restored to its original position by the weight of the form aligner wedge 5 which rotates the cam 5a in the reverse direction, thereby restoring the form aligner wedge 5 to its original position. The shaft 4a supports the guide rollers 4 in a manner to allow the latter to rotate freely, and portions of the shaft 4a that support the respective guide rollers 4 are circular in cross section.

The strip 1 is fed and stops so that the series of perforations 1_(a1) and 1_(a2) disposed in superposed relation are successively indexed with the cutter 15a. When the strip 1 becomes stationary, the cutter 15a is actuated to sever the forms 1 from the strip at the series of perforations 1_(a1) and 1_(a2) disposed in superposed relation.

As described hereinabove, the strip 1 is fed by friction by the drive roller 11a. When the next following series of perforations 1a is brought into index with the cutter 15a, the upper and lower forms or the original form 1₁ and the copy form 1₂ might be displaced from each other by an amount δ. If the strip 1 is fed without correcting the displacement, the displacement would grow in amount and cause printing to be done in wrong places on the original form 1₁ and the copy form 1₂ and cutting of the strip 1 to be effected in wrong places.

The present invention provides means for correcting such displacement of the upper and lower forms relative to one another.

When the strip 1 stops and one series of perforations 1a is indexed with the cutter 15a, the next following series of perforations 1a or the series of perforations 1a spaced apart from the series of perforations 1a indexed with the cutter 15a by a distance corresponding to the spacing between the two adjacent series of perforations 1a multiplied by an integer is disposed in the vicinity of the bend P of the form aligner guide 3.

To correct the displacement δ of the upper and lower forms relative to each other, the pinch roller 12a is released from pressing engagement with the drive roller 11a as shown in FIG. 5, to permit the form aligner wedge 5 to move in the direction of an arrow F. The form aligner wedge 5 has a vertical angle θ_(w) at its upper thin edge Q which substantially matches an inner angle θ_(F) of the bend P of the form aligner guide 3 and θ_(w) =θ_(F). The upper thin edge Q of the form aligner wedge 5 is in spaced juxtaposed relation to the bend P of the form aligner guide 3. By moving the form aligner wedge 5 upwardly to bring the upper thin edge Q into contact with the bend P of the form aligner guide 3, the displacement δ of the original form 1₁ and the copy form 1₂ relative to each other can be corrected, and the two series of perforations 1_(a1) and 1_(a2) are brought into alignment with each other.

The displacement correcting operation will be described in detail.

A bent portion is formed in the strip 1 in a position above the guide rollers 4 and below the bend P of the form aligner guide 3. It often happens that after the first assembly of forms 1₁ and 1₂ is cut and severed from the strip 1, the bent portion of the strip is not indexed with either both or one of the two series of perforations 1_(a1) and 1_(a2) disposed in superposed relation in a plurality of layers.

Energization of the rotary solenoid 5b causes the form aligner wedge 5 to move in an upwardly directed movement from its original position shown in FIG. 4. When the bent portion of the strip 1 is not indexed with both of the two series of perforations 1_(a1) and 1_(a2), the upper thin edge Q of the form aligner wedge 5 moving upwardly comes into contact with the bent portion of the strip 1 (1₁ and 1₂) and moves the bent portion upwardly. The strip 1 including the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ moves to the right side in the case of FIG. 4 as the bent portion is moved upwardly by the form aligner wedge 5. This moves the series of perforations 1_(a2) to the right side with some displacement. Further upward movement of the form aligner wedge 5 first brings the series of perforations 1_(a2) of the lower layer 1₂ of the strip 1 into index with the upper thin edge Q of the form aligner wedge 5 and then brings the series of perforations 1_(a1) of the upper layer 1₁ of the strip 1 into alignment with the series of perforations 1_(a2). As a result, the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ of the strip 1 are brought into alignment with each other.

The form aligner guide 3 performs an ancillary function in such a manner that the upper and lower layers 1₁ and 1₂ of the strip 1 are brought into alignment with each other at the perforations by the short stroke movement of the form aligner wedge 5. The form aligner guide 3 may be dispensed with if the stroke of the movement of the form aligner wedge 5 is somewhat increased.

In the embodiment shown and described hereinabove, the top or vertical angle θ_(w) of the form aligner wedge 5 is shown as being an obtuse angle. However, if it is desired to effect form alignment in a short period of time by reducing the stroke of movement of the form aligner wedge 5, the vertical angle θ_(w) preferably is an acute angle. About 90 degrees will be preferable because if the angle is too acute the strip might be cut at the perforations by the form aligning device 6.

If the stroke of the upwardly directed movement of the form aligner wedge 5 is increased, the strip 1 might be cut at the series of perforations indexed with the bent portion of the strip. To obviate this defect, a relief 30a may be formed in the bend of the form aligner guide 30 and the upper sharp edge of the form aligner wedge 50 may be a flat surface in place of the sharp edge, as shown in FIG. 6.

As soon as the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ of the strip 1 are brought into alignment with each other or the form aligner wedge 5 has moved upwardly a predetermined distance, the pinch roller 12a moves downwardly to press the strip 1 against the drive roller 11a. As a result, the strip 1 is held between the pinch roller 12a and the drive roller 11a while the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ are maintained in alignment with each other.

Thereafter, the rotary solenoid 5b is deenergized, allowing the form aligner wedge 5 to move downwardly to its original position shown in FIG. 4.

In the embodiment shown and described hereinabove, the pinch roller 12a is moved toward the drive roller 11a to press the strip 1 against the drive roller 11a as soon as the upward movement of the form aligner wedge 5 brings the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ of the strip 1 into alignment with each other. This is because when the strip 1 has resilience there might be the possibilities of the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ being displaced relative to each other again if the form aligner wedge 5 were merely restored to its original position without causing the pinch roller 12a to press the strip 1 against the drive roller 11a.

Even if the pinch roller 12a were not moved toward the drive roller 11a as soon as the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ are brought into alignment with each other, the displacement of the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ relative to each other can be substantially corrected by the vertical movement of the form aligner wedge 5 alone, and the amount of displacement can be greatly reduced from the value δ obtained before correction of the displacement is effected.

Thus when the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ of the strip 1 have no resilience or when the upper layer 1₁ has resilience but the lower layer 1₂ has little or no resilience, it is not essential to move the pinch roller 12 toward the drive roller 11a.

The need to move the pinch roller 12a toward the drive roller 11a is eliminated by the fact that since the displacement is corrected each time an assembly of forms constituting the upper and lower layer of the strip is severed from the strip, the amount of displacement can be kept below a certain level no matter how much the strip is fed to sever the assemblies of forms.

The generation of the next strip feeding signal causes the clutch 13a to be operated to actuate the drive rollers 11a and 11b, to thereby transport the strip 1 past the cutter assembly 15 so that the leading edge of the strip 1 is brought to a position in which the photoelectric sensor 14 is located.

In the embodiment shown and described hereinabove, the form aligner wedge 5 is wedge-shaped at its upper end portion. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this specific form of the form aligner 5 and that any member may be used in place of the form aligner wedge 5 so long as such member is capable of contacting each series of perforations 1a at its upper end or at its periphery as shown in FIG. 6 and bringing the upper layer 1₁ and the lower layer 1₂ of the strip 1 into alignment with each other. For example, such member may be a linear member. Also, in the embodiment, the bent portion of the strip 1 has been described as being disposed above the strip container 2 and the transporting device 8. However, when guide rollers are mounted on opposite sides of the strip container 2 and the transporting device 8 and arranged in such a manner that the strip 1 is formed with a depressed portion therein, the guide rollers 4 can be dispensed with because a bent portion is formed by the strip 1 by virtue of the aforesaid arrangement. When this is the case, the bent portion is concaved, and displacements of the upper and lower layers of the strip relative to one another can be corrected by the downwardly directed movement of the form aligner wedge 5.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an apparatus for feeding a strip of continuous forms including forms arranged in a plurality of layers, which is capable of feeding the strip without producing any displacement of the upper and lower layers relative to each other, without the use of adhesive, such as paste, for connecting the upper and lower layers together, and without the use of any particular feeding device, such as sprocket apertures.

When the apparatus according to the present invention is used, the forms arranged in the plurality of layers in the strip can be readily separated from each other for use because no paste or other adhesive is used to connect them together. Thus the risks of damaging the forms when attempts are made to separate them are not involved.

As aforesaid, the strip has no sprocket apertures in the marginal portions for feeding the strip when the apparatus according to the present invention is used. This eliminates the operation of cutting off the marginal portions of the forms severed from the strip when the forms are printed and used as tickets, for example.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the strip feeding device which does not use means, such as pasting, for connecting the upper and lower layers of a strip including forms arranged in a plurality of layers, and that any appropriate connecting means of minor degree may be used. Also, the present invention is not limited to the described order in which severing of an assembly of forms from the strip and correcting of displacements of the upper and lower layers of the strip relative to each other are practiced.

Also, the present invention is not limited to the aforesaid correction of displacements of the upper and lower layers of the strip which is practiced each time the bent portion of the strip is indexed with each series of perforations in the strip. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for feeding a strip of continuous forms including forms arranged in at least two layers and having a plurality of series of perforations extending widthwise of the strip and arranged at regular intervals lengthwise of the strip, comprising:a. a guide formed with a bend for forming a bent portion in said strip in a position corresponding to one of said plurality of series of perforations; b. a member located inwardly of the bent portion of said strip; and c. drive means for moving at least one of said guide and said member relative to the other to bring the bent portion of the strip into contact with the member.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said member is wedge-shaped.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said bend of said guide is formed with a relief.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tip of said wedge-shaped member is a flat surface.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said drive means includes a cam engageable with said member to move the latter toward and away from said guide. 